"Writing isn't magic, but then magic isn't magic either. Magicians know their craft, and writers must also know their craft."
Grammar Rules to Remember (The following rules and examples are frequent on the ACT and expected in college) . The Semi-Colon (3 usages) Rule: 1. Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by and, but, or, nor, for, yet. ex.) Take with you only indispensable things; leave behind all heavy and bulky items.
Rule: 2. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by such words as for example, for instance, that is, besides, accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, therefore, however, consequently, instead, hence. ex.) Tension rose rapidly during yesterday's meeting;nevertheless, most of the Council members remained calm.
3. A semicolon (rather that a comma) may be needed to separate independent clauses if there are commas with the clauses. ex.) The Canby, the new theater on Bank Street, announced programs of Westerns, gangster pictures, and re-releases of horror and blood-and-thunder movies; and the crowds,surprisingly enough, were enormous.
4. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas. ex.) The following are members of the new committee: Jan Bates, president of the Student Council; Allan Drew, president of the Senior Class; Helen Berger, vice-president of the Honor Society; and James Green, who, as a member of the Student Council, proposed that the committee be formed. .
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. The Colon (3 usages) Rule: 1. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions like as follows and the following. ex.) The car trunk was large enough for everything: rackets, golf clubs, fishing supplies, suitcases, a picnic basket, and heavy clothing. 2. Use a colon before a long, formal statement or quotation. ex.) Dr. Stoddard made the following observation: The time is coming when a general college education will be as common as a high school education is today.
3. Use a colon between independent clauses when the second clause explains or restates the idea in the first. ex.) These seat covers are the durable kind: they are reinforced with double stitching and covered with a heavy plastic coating. 4. Use a colon between volume and number or between volume and age number of a periodical. ex.) Harper's 198:12 (volume and number) ex.) Harper's 198:68-74 (volume and page numbers)
5. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter. ex.) Dear Ms. Green: .
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. The Dash Rule: 1. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought. ex.) He might-- and according to plans, should-- have reinforced the Second Division.
2. Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that is before an explanation. ex.) The referees had it in their power to prevent the fracas-- they could have stopped the game at any time. [the dash means that is] . The Hyphen Rule: 1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line.
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and with fractions used as adjectives. ex.) Thirty-three students
3. Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex-, self-, all-, with the suffix -elect, and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective. ex.) ex-president, self-imposed
4. Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the word it modifies. ex.) a second-story room, an after-school meeting.
5. Use a hyphen to prevent confusion or awkwardness. ex.) re-collect [prevents confusion with recollect] . The Comma (Introductory Clauses) Rule: 1. Use a comma after words such as well, yes, no, and why, when they begin a sentence. ex.) Yes, you were elected. ex.) Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that.
2. Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase. ex.) Behaving like a spoiled child, he pouted and threw a fit.
3. Use a comma after a succession of introductory prepositional phrases. ex.) At the edge of the deep woods near Lakeville in Cumberland County, they built a small log cabin.
4. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clauses. ex.) While Mario put the costume on, the accompanist played "Deep Purple." . The Comma (Appositive Phrases) Rule: 1. Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas. ex.) A syndicated column by Bernie Silverman, the noted writer, will appear in the Times-News, a local paper.
2. Words used in direct address are set off by commas. ex.) I don't know, Alice, where your brother is.
3. Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas. ex.) My parents will, I am sure, let me have the car tonight. .
Essay Rules . 1. Never use First person in analysis: I, we, you, me, our
.
2. Never use the following words of profanity: IS, WAS, SHOWS, and USE
.
3. Never retell events in a piece: Place your reader at the precise point then analyze the theme or effect.
.
4. Never use the word VERY or CONTRACTIONS
.
5. Never heap praise upon an author. That is opinion. Just state the facts.
.
6. Never utilize a quotation longer that one to two lines of text.
.
7. There are A LOT of reasons not to utilize this phrase of doltishness.
(myriad, plethora, multitudinous, innumerable, numerous, etc)
.
8. I says you ain't to use says bc I gave y'all 100 words replacing says.
.
9. The words "quote" or "quotation" should never appear in the essay. BTW: quote is a verb and quotation is a noun.
.
10. Give the author credit for EVERYTHING. Never say, "This quote shows" instead "Here Orwell details his philosophy..."
.
AP Language Test Tips
.
Essay 1 - Document Based Questions
a. Trust in all of your practice
b. Outline
.
Essay 2 - Rhetorical Analysis
a. When you can't find any devices rely on b.
b. Logos/pathos/ethos and tone/mood and diction/sentence structure
c. Tie it all into the message of the author
d. Outline
.
Essay 3 - Wild Card question
a. Be prepared for anything
b. Brainstorm utilizing all of your readings and historical events
c. Outline
Grammar Rules to Remember
(The following rules and examples are frequent on the ACT and expected in college)
.
The Semi-Colon (3 usages)
Rule: 1. Use a semicolon between independent clauses not joined by and, but, or, nor, for, yet.
ex.) Take with you only indispensable things; leave behind all heavy and bulky items.
Rule: 2. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by such words as for example, for instance, that is, besides, accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, therefore, however, consequently, instead, hence.
ex.) Tension rose rapidly during yesterday's meeting; nevertheless, most of the Council members remained calm.
3. A semicolon (rather that a comma) may be needed to separate independent clauses if there are commas with the clauses.
ex.) The Canby, the new theater on Bank Street, announced programs of Westerns, gangster pictures, and re-releases of horror and blood-and-thunder movies; and the crowds,surprisingly enough, were enormous.
4. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas.
ex.) The following are members of the new committee: Jan Bates, president of the Student Council; Allan Drew, president of the Senior Class; Helen Berger, vice-president of the Honor Society; and James Green, who, as a member of the Student Council, proposed that the committee be formed.
.
.
The Colon (3 usages)
Rule: 1. Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions like as follows and the following.
ex.) The car trunk was large enough for everything: rackets, golf clubs, fishing supplies, suitcases, a picnic basket, and heavy clothing.
2. Use a colon before a long, formal statement or quotation.
ex.) Dr. Stoddard made the following observation: The time is coming when a general college education will be as common as a high school education is today.
3. Use a colon between independent clauses when the second clause explains or restates the idea in the first.
ex.) These seat covers are the durable kind: they are reinforced with double stitching and covered with a heavy plastic coating.
4. Use a colon between volume and number or between volume and age number of a periodical.
ex.) Harper's 198:12 (volume and number)
ex.) Harper's 198:68-74 (volume and page numbers)
5. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter.
ex.) Dear Ms. Green:
.
.
The Dash
Rule: 1. Use a dash to indicate an abrupt break in thought.
ex.) He might-- and according to plans, should-- have reinforced the Second Division.
2. Use a dash to mean namely, in other words, or that is before an explanation.
ex.) The referees had it in their power to prevent the fracas-- they could have stopped the game at any time. [the dash means that is]
.
The Hyphen
Rule: 1. Use a hyphen to divide a word at the end of a line.
2. Use a hyphen with compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine and with fractions used as adjectives.
ex.) Thirty-three students
3. Use a hyphen with the prefixes ex-, self-, all-, with the suffix -elect, and with all prefixes before a proper noun or proper adjective.
ex.) ex-president, self-imposed
4. Hyphenate a compound adjective when it precedes the word it modifies.
ex.) a second-story room, an after-school meeting.
5. Use a hyphen to prevent confusion or awkwardness.
ex.) re-collect [prevents confusion with recollect]
.
The Comma (Introductory Clauses)
Rule: 1. Use a comma after words such as well, yes, no, and why, when they begin a sentence.
ex.) Yes, you were elected.
ex.) Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that.
2. Use a comma after an introductory participial phrase.
ex.) Behaving like a spoiled child, he pouted and threw a fit.
3. Use a comma after a succession of introductory prepositional phrases.
ex.) At the edge of the deep woods near Lakeville in Cumberland County, they built a small log cabin.
4. Use a comma after an introductory adverb clauses.
ex.) While Mario put the costume on, the accompanist played "Deep Purple."
.
The Comma (Appositive Phrases)
Rule: 1. Appositives and appositive phrases are usually set off by commas.
ex.) A syndicated column by Bernie Silverman, the noted writer, will appear in the Times-News, a local paper.
2. Words used in direct address are set off by commas.
ex.) I don't know, Alice, where your brother is.
3. Parenthetical expressions are set off by commas.
ex.) My parents will, I am sure, let me have the car tonight.
.
Essay Rules
.
1. Never use First person in analysis: I, we, you, me, our
.
2. Never use the following words of profanity: IS, WAS, SHOWS, and USE
.
3. Never retell events in a piece: Place your reader at the precise point then analyze the theme or effect.
.
4. Never use the word VERY or CONTRACTIONS
.
5. Never heap praise upon an author. That is opinion. Just state the facts.
.
6. Never utilize a quotation longer that one to two lines of text.
.
7. There are A LOT of reasons not to utilize this phrase of doltishness.
(myriad, plethora, multitudinous, innumerable, numerous, etc)
.
8. I says you ain't to use says bc I gave y'all 100 words replacing says.
.
9. The words "quote" or "quotation" should never appear in the essay. BTW: quote is a verb and quotation is a noun.
.
10. Give the author credit for EVERYTHING. Never say, "This quote shows" instead "Here Orwell details his philosophy..."
.
AP Language Test Tips
.
Essay 1 - Document Based Questions
a. Trust in all of your practice
b. Outline
.
Essay 2 - Rhetorical Analysis
a. When you can't find any devices rely on b.
b. Logos/pathos/ethos and tone/mood and diction/sentence structure
c. Tie it all into the message of the author
d. Outline
.
Essay 3 - Wild Card question
a. Be prepared for anything
b. Brainstorm utilizing all of your readings and historical events
c. Outline